CViE Conference 2026: Countering the Culture

Christian Values in Education is pleased to invite you to our 2026 conference. On this page you can find information about the conference programme, venue, and registration. Check back regularly for further updates. All arrangements subject to the Lord’s will.

Conference Theme

Christianity is distinctive. In the UK, our society is in open rebellion against God, and our culture stands directly opposed to the Bible’s teaching. In this context, Christians should be different – ‘pilgrims’ travelling through a world that is not their home, on their way to heaven – not conforming to the culture, but being Christlike in all things, shining as lights ‘in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation’. Therefore, the Christian message — and the Christian life — are, by their very nature, counter-cultural.

Countering the Culture is the theme of our 2026 conference. How can we actively speak boldly into our culture with the Bible’s distinctive message? And how can we — as parents, grandparents, teachers, or church leaders — ensure that the children and young people in our care are equipped to do the same?

We need to stand on solid ground: full of faith in our God and confident in His Word. But we also need, whether young or old, to be well-informed and equipped with wise, loving, practical Biblical responses to the issues we all encounter.

We have selected three topical areas where the prevailing cultural narrative stands in stark contrast to the teaching of Scripture. Each of the main sessions will address one of these, aiming to equip us with clear answers and a robust biblical foundation so that we can faithfully counter the culture.

Conference Sessions & Speakers

We are pleased to announce an engaging line up of speakers:

• Dr Susan Marriott, Head of Public Policy at the Christian Medical Fellowship, will speak on Defending the Sanctity of Life. Whether in debates around euthanasia or abortion, society has almost completely abandoned the truth that every human being is made in the image of God and that every human life is distinct and special. This talk will look at the current situation in the UK and guide us back to the Biblical foundations.
• Dr Julie Maxwell, Deputy Director of Lovewise, will speak on Sex and Relationships: A Better Narrative. Our culture has distorted God’s good design for stable relationships and His gift of sex within marriage. Broken homes, selfishness in relationships, the widespread influence of pornography, and the confusion about identity are all symptoms of this distortion. Dr Maxwell will highlight the Bible’s better way and introduce some of the resources Lovewise has produced to support parents, teachers, teens, and younger children.
• James Taylor, Pastor of Bethel Chapel, Guildford, will speak on Truth in a Post‑Truth World. In a society that has rejected absolute truth and is therefore spiralling into confusion, we hold to the unchanging truth of God’s Word, revealed supremely in the Lord Jesus Christ. This session will unpick the fallacies of the ‘my truth’ culture, encourage us to stand firm on God’s truth and consider how we can help our children and young people grow in confidence in the Scriptures.

Crèche & Breakout Sessions

As at previous conferences, we will be running a full programme of separate breakout sessions and activities for children and teens accross a number of age groups. Details of these can be round on the confernece programme below.

A supervised crèche will also be provided for the under 5s.

Conference Programme

Below is the current conference programme. Some details are still to be finalised.

Book Vouchers, Resources & Exhibitors

This year we will once again run our popular “Cultivate a Reading Habit” scheme, providing each school-age child with a £10 book voucher to use at the various bookstalls.

A wide range of Christian resources will be available from a variety of exhibitors.

Conference Venue

Once again this year the conference will be held at Stopsley Baptist Church, Luton, LU2 7XP. This excellent venue offers a large auditorium, additional breakout space, a purpose-built crèche, plenty of parking, and the benefit of CViE being the sole users of the building for the day.

Parking

Plenty of free parking for the conference can be found at Stopsley High School, a short distance further down the road beyond the church where the conference is being held. Note that parking adjacent the venue itself is very limited and will be reserved for those with disabilities and conference exhibitors.

Refreshments & Lunch

Hot and cold drinks will be provided free of charge throughout the day. Note: There is no food catering available at the venue. Please provide your own picnic lunch.

Conference Registration

To assist with our planning please book your place via the button at the top of the page, or this link.

Conference Flyer